of thy hands admiring thy Power and Wisedome in the creation of all things 6 I stretch forth and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord my soule which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace thirsteth after thee for the water of life as a thirsty land in a time of drought 7 Heare me and answer me speedily delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint and faileth me in my deuotion Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner least it come to passe that I bee like in condition vnto them that goe downe headlong after their owne inuentions into the pit of destruction and perdition 8 Cause mee by thy spirit to heare and feele thy louing kindnesse and mercy in the morning speedily least I perish for in thee only and not in the helpe of men or Angels doe I place my whole trust and confidence cause mee by thy grace to know and learne the way of thy testimonies wherein I should and ought to walke without declining to the right hand or the left For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee who only canst direct me aright 9 Deliuer me O Lord by thy power from all mine enemies visible and inuisible for I flie and make hast for succour vnto thee as to my protector to hide and defend me from their violence 10 Teach and instruct mee that am ignorant to doe thy Will and those things which thou commandest for thou art my God and director Thy Spirit is good and all sufficient for me Lead me therefore by it into the right way which bringeth into the land of righteousnes and truth 11 Quicken mee againe O Lord and reuiue mee from the death of sinne for thy Names sake which is Iesus and for thy righteousnesse sake and loue to goodnesse bring my soule by thy grace out of the trouble and anguish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me 12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion cut of and kill in me mine enemies the concupiscences of the flesh and destroy and confound all them that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule which is wholly deuoted to thee for I am thy Seruant and Sonne of thy handmaid and desire to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Glory be to the Father c. Directions before receiuing the Holy Communion AS many as desire to be partakers of the holy Sacrament of the Bodie and blood of Christ as of necessitte euery one must be that intendeth to receiue benefit by him ought before the taking of it to prepare his soule and fit it for the due receiuing of it and not come to it carelessely without due examination of himselfe and respectiue consideration of the excellency and worth thereof And therefore before the time of communicating wee ought to spend some time or dayes the more the better In meditating vpon the great and vnspeakeable loue and mercy of God toward vs. miserable sinners in ordeining so powerfull a meanes to purge and cleanse vs and bring vs to him In beleeuing all his promises made to vs in Christ Iesus in applying them to our selues in performing the workes of charitie in examining in what estate our soules doe stand in calling to minde our sinnes and confessing them to God in grieuing and repenting for them and that in all humility and Godly sorrow in a Luc. 15.20 returning with the Prodigall smiting our brests with the Publican b Luc. 18.13 weeping with Mary Magdalen begging mercy with the theefe on the Crosse Luc. 7.38 and lastly in promising to God to lead a better life for the time to come Thus if wee doe no doubt but wee shall be welcome guests to this feast as being of that number for whom it was prepared For by how much the more we come prepared to take this Sacrament so much the greater shall bee the grace which we shall receiue by it There are foure Duties required in euery Communicant First Faith to beleeue that Iesus Christ did and suffered all things which are written of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Redemption of mankinde Secondly Repentance by which a man confessing his sinnes to God with a purpose to lead a new life is reconciled to him Thirdly Reuerend behauiour that in all humility we make our selues fit guests for such a feast Fourthly Meditation and Attention that we during the time of the administration of the Sacrament attend no earthly thoughts but wholly fixe our soules vpon our Sauiour Christ and meditate on nothing but this great and high benefit and thereby bee inflamed with a hearty loue and thankefull minde to God not only for his infinite loue in suffering so great things for vs but also for instituting this blessed Sacrament to remaine to the end of the World as a sure pledge of his continuance amongst vs and perpetuall care ouer vs. After we haue communicated and are refreshed wee ought also to be thankfull to God for so great a benefit thankfulnesse being not the least dutie of this seruice The Sacrament it selfe being called Eucharistia which is thankesgiuing and to striue to imitate him as well in life as death to liue purely and not to defile our soules againe being purged and cleansed by the powerfull operation of this blessed Sacrament that so by Examination meditation thankesgiuing faith and constant resolution of amendment Wee may worthily receiue Christ into our soules and be made members of his mysticall bodie Meditations and Prayers before the Communion WHat am I O Lord that I should be so bold as to come neere to thee what am I that should attempt to receiue this so great and high a mystery what is man by nature but a vessell of corruption vnapt to any good and propense and most ready for any euill What is man but a creature of all others most wretched blinde in Iudgement inconstant in his actions vncleane in his desires and though small in desert yet proud and great in his owne conceit Thou seest O Lord what I am But thou O Lord art great good wise and eternall omnipotent in strength wonderfull in wisedome deepe in thy counsells terrible in thy Iudgements and absolutely perfect in all thy workes How then dare I that am so base and vncleane a creature approch to the Feast of so great a God and a Lord of so great Maiestie Behold the Heauens are not cleane in thy sight Iob 15.15 and the pillers of Heauen shake and tremble at thy nod Saint Iohn the Baptist who was sanctified in his mothers wombe professed himselfe not worthy to vnloose the latchâ—t of thy shoes Ioh. 1 27. Saint Peter cried out to thee Luc. 5.8 to depart from him a sinfull man How then can I the chiefe of all sinners but tremble at thy presence O LORD I feare that being thus wretched and vnfit I shall not bee admitted to this Feast but rather
healeth all thy diseases and thy infirmities by the regeneration and renewing of his holy Spirit in thee 4 Who only redeemeth and saueth thy life from destruction and vtter ruine and who instead of taking iust and seuere reuenge of thee for thy sinnes crowneth and compasseth thee with louing kindnesse many blessings and comforteth thee with his tender mercies which are aboue the rest of his workes 5 Who in his prouidence satisfieth and filleth thy mouth and desire with all good things necessary for thy sustentation so that thy youth by his power is renewed like the Eagles by curing thy weaknesse and infirmitie and making the lustie and strong 6 The Lord releeueth them that suffer wrong and executeth Righteousnesse and Iudgement without respect of persons and standeth for all that are vniustly oppressed against those that are too mightie for them 7 He in former times at the publishing of the Law made knowne his wayes and taught his Commandements vnto Moses by whom he gaue directions to succeeding ages what they were to follow and what to auoid and his mightie acts were well knowne vnto the children of Israel by their many and great deliuerances 8 The Lord our God is mercifull in forgiuing offences and gratious in not imputing our sinnes vnto vs he is slow to anger expecting the conuersion of sinners and plenteous in mercy exceeding in his loue and liberall in his benefits to those that feare him 9 He will not alwayes chide nor be euer displeased with his children neither will he remember our sinnes and keepe his anger against vs for them for euer but in his wrath he will euer be mindfull of his mercy 10 He hath not dealt with vs nor punished vs rebellious wretches after the qualitie of our sins wherewith we haue dayly offended his patience nor hath he rewarded or retributed to vs according to the hainousnesse of our iniquities for he knoweth that if hee should strictly enter into Iudgement with vs no flesh could be saued 11 For like as the Heauen is high as we see and farre aboue the earth so great is his mercy aboue his Iustice towards them that feare him and in remorse for their offences truely turne vnto him 12 As farre also in distance as the East part of the world is scituate from the West which by reason of their separation can neuer come neere to each other so farre at the least hath hee remoued and put away our transgressions and sinnes from vs that they neuer shall come neere vnto vs to doe vs any harme 13 Like as a tender and compassionate Father pitieth his disobedient Children and vpon submission receiueth them againe to Grace so the Lord who is the Father of mercies pitieth and grieueth to see the afflictions of them that in feare and trembling for their sinnes returne vnto him 14 For hee the Lord which knoweth all things knoweth also our frame that wee consist of flesh and bloud subiect to corruption and frailty and he with all remembreth and considereth that we are but euen Dust fashioned out of the earth and therefore must needs partake and sauour of earthly substance 15 As for wretched and fraile Man therefore his dayes are but as grasse which is greene in the morning and before night is cut downe and withered and as a fading flower of the field which for a while only in the spring time is beautifull and afterward is cropt or decayeth euen so and in no more assurance is he that in the greatest prosperitie flourisheth For after a while in a short time hee is no more seene nor his remembrance shall be no where found 16 For as the Winde and Stormes passeth ouer it and presently it is gone and withered and the place thereof where it grew shall not know it nor beare it no more So man after he hath a while left the troubles and stormes of this world shall soone die and bee forgotten and the place of his being will bee no more knowne 17 But yet the mercy and louing kindnesse of the Lord to the Sonnes of Men is and was from euerlasting and shall continue to euerlasting to the end of the world and shall euer be vpon them especially that which vnfeined hearts serue loue and feare him and his righteousnesse in all his promises shall bee accomplished to his seruants and vnto their Childrens Children their posteritie through many generations 18 To such especially as forget not his Commandements but faithfully keepe and obserue his Couenant and to those that remember and be mindefull of his Commandements and frame themselues to doe them 19 The Lord who commandeth the obseruance of his Lawes is most worthy of all Honour and not to be neglected for hee hath before the foundations of the World prepared his Throne and seate of Maiestie in the Heauens where hee is attended on by the glorious company of Angells and his Kingdome is not streightned or limited to one peculiar place or countrey but he Ruleth and commandeth ouer all people and nations 20 Blesse therefore the Lord that is so mighty ye that be his holy Angels magnifie and laud his holy Name ye that excell in strength and that gladly doe and execute his Commandements and that by hearkning vnto and obeying the voice of his Word willingly execute his Will and pleasure 21 Blesse ye and praise I say the Lord your and our God all ye his heauenly Hostes ye blessed Angels ye that are Ministers and Seruants of his that willingly and gladly execute and doe his pleasure 22 Blesse and praise together with one accord the Lord our God all his workes which hee hath created for the celebrating of his Glory where so euer ye remaine in all places of his Dominion euery where and lastly as I began with thee O my Soule to stirre thee vp to his praise so I end with the same excitation Blesse Praise Laud and Magnifie the Lord thy God O my Soule to whom hee hath euer beene so gratious and mercifull Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme III. 1 I Will praise the Lord and giue thankes vnto his holy Name with my whole heart and that not only in my priuate deuotions but in the publique assembly and meeting of the vpright in heart and in the congregation of the faithfull the Church also 2 The wondrous workes of the Lord our God euen from the beginning through all ages euen to this time are so great and glorious that worthily he alone deserueth to be magnified for them they are sought out and searched into of all them that haue pleasure and delight in meditating and contemplating therein 3 His worke in the creation and fabrique of the vniuerse is honourable and glorious of all his creatures worthily to bee admired and his righteousnesse and equitie his care and prouidence in the preseruation and gouerment of it is likewise to be magnified because it is permanent and endureth for euer 4 He hath made and perfected his wonderfull workes with
Christ himselfe to encourage this holy duty of publique prayer hath promised his presence amongst those that shall bee assembled and gathered together after this manner Therefore whosoeuer shall neglect these publique assemblies sheweth and discouereth thereby how little he regardeth Christs cōpany or presence These prayers are also distinguished into these parts 1. Inuocation 2. Confession 3. Thankesgiuing part 1 Inuocation consisteth of 1. Petitions for the good of our owne Soules in Spirituall things Bodies in Temporall things 2. Intercessions either in praying for the good or against the euill of others 3. Deprecations against euill Spirituall Temporall part 2 Confession is threefold 1. Of our Faith 2. Of the Glory of God 3. Of our owne sinnes part 3 Thankesgiuing is either 1. For deliuerance from euill 2. For Benefits receiued To these may be added part 4 Imprecation either 1. Against the enemies of God 2. against the enemies of our soules incorrigible and irrecōcileable So that these rules bee obserued 1. That it be not vsed for priuate hate or reuenge 2. That we reioyce not in any mans destruction 3. That we ayme at their correction The vse of the Lords Prayer BEcause that our SAVIOVR CHRIST hath taught vs how to pray and hath put the very wordes as it were into our mouthes which wee should vse in praying I thinke it necessary to begin with the same which he hath so left vnto vs. 1. In respect of the Excellency of the Author of it who was no lesse then God 2. In respect of the perfection of the worke it selfe the praier for it comprehendeth in it petitions for all things which we stand in need of 3. In respect of the Efficacy of this prayer in working for it cannot choose but preuaile and work much with God for none knew the minde and disposition of God better then hee which composed it which was God And let it not loose any part of the due praise which belongeth to it in regard of the compendiousnesse or shortnesse of it for it deserueth the more henour because though it be short yet is also copious and plentifull in matter and therefore the more absolute and perfect It is not therefore without cause that the Ancients haue giuen so many excellent Attributes to it As the Abridgement of the Gospell and our Faith The Interpretation of our desires and hope The very Bond of Charity And an inexhaustible Treasury Yet let not any man thinke that our Sauiour prescribed vs this prayer as that we should vse no other but be tyed to the very words contayned in it but this we must conceiue that hee made it to bridle our desires that though wee make our petitions and frame them according to our seuerall necessities yet to keepe vs in compasse that wee exceede not the limits nor vary from the extent and bounds of this prayer The vse of it is two fold 1. That we might be instructed by it what is necessary in generall to require of God and not without neede seeing wee being naturally blinde in spirituall things know not what is fit to aske and many times we craue those things as Zebedees children did which are vnworthy both of God and our selues Mat. 20.21 and might proue hurtfull also to vs if they should bee granted And therefore vnder certaine generall heads he hath bounded the desires of the flesh and taught vs after what man◅ and rule wee should square all our petitions For whatsoeuer wee shall desire against the directions therein contained disagreeth from the will of God and therefore is neither good holy not profitable 2. That wee may bee able thereby to conceiue frame and make all our prayers according to our seuerall necessities and after that petition which fitteth vs as our occasions shall alter The Lords Prayer analysed Our father 1. Chr. 29.10 A Father not a Iudge One beeing a name of goodnesse Comfortable The other of Power Terrible Who durst bee so bold as to call thee Father but that Christ did commaund it For exceeding great is thy Maiestie And exceeding great is our Pouertie But wee are bold to doe it for we come not of our selues thy Sonne Christ hath taught vs the Forme Take notice of the words they are thy Sonnes Father Luc. 3.38 1. Of all Creatures In Creation Preseruation Gouerning 2. Of Mankinde which he formed after his owne Image Gen. 1.26 9.6 3. Of Christians more especially by Grace Regeneration Eph. 1.4,5 Iam. 1.18 1. Pet. 1.23 and adoption by Iesus Christ who was the Sonne of God by Nature Father There is no Father like vnto thee When my Father and mother forsake me Psa 27.10 then the Lord will take mee vp Thou art our Father Esa 63.16 though Abraham bee ignorant of vs. 49.15 Though a woman forget the Fraite of her wombe yet will not I forget thee A most indulgent Father To whom the prodigall sonne arose and went Luc. 15.18 whom the insoluant seruant besought Mat. 18.27 Though thou bee an angry Father yet a Father thou art Though I be a wastfull and disobedient sonne yet a sonne I am Though I haue lost the duty of a sonne yet hast not Thou lost the compassion and Loue of a Father Father Whom we finde so to be By his inciting vs to good Confirming vs in it Deliuering vs from tentations Reclaiming vs from sinne Crowning vs with blessings 1. If thou our Father Then are we sonnes How great what manner of Loue hast thou bestowed vpon vs 1. Ioh. 3.1 that we should be called the sonnes of God 2. If thou our Father and we the sonnes of God How great is the Honour that wee are as it were Gods 3. If thou our Father Then are we brethren to Angels as also to Men. Heb. 2.12 Saints as also to Meane men Christ himselfe as also to Poore men How great ought our Charity be Let no man therefore extoll himselfe aboue his Brethren nor be ashamed to call any man Brother whom God hath vouchsafed to call sonne 4 If thou our Father How great is our Hope What are wee to expect from thee Euen all things which a Father giueth to his Children Mat. 7.11 What are wee to render vnto thee Euen all Dutie and Obedience belonging to Children Malach. 1.6 1. Pet. 1.17 Our father In no part of this prayer is found either the word Mine or J. Our is a word of Charitie and Vnitie Let euery one therefore not only pray for himselfe but for others also considering that in so doing hee prayeth for him whom Charitie hath made as himselfe Christ bore vs all in his body let vs do the like to one another in word and deed For our selues Necessity compelleth vs to pray My Father For our brethren Charity inuiteth vs to pray Our Father In these two words Our and Father is comprehended the Law and Prophets In Father the Loue of God In Our the Loue of
land of Righteousnesse Giue me grace O Lord. Rom. 7.18 To know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing To abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule To keepe in minde alwayes that the world passeth away and the desires thereof and that the benefit which a man getteth by the world is nothing but destruction Truely to say Psal 119.52 I haue remembred thy euerlasting Iudgements and my Soule receiueth comfort thereby O Thou that a 1. Pet. 5.5 giuest grace to the humble giue me grace to be humble Giue me a good heart which Luc. 8.15 hearing thy Word may keepe it and bring forth fruit with patience O Lord Gen. 6.8 let me finde grace in thine eyes Heb. 12.17 Let me finde a place and time of Repentance Let me not receiue thy Grace in vaine 2. Cor. 6.1 Let Heb. 12.15 mee not faile or fall from it But Act. 13.43 let me continue in it And 2. Pet. 3.18 let me grow in it To the end of my daies 2. Cor. 7.11 Giue me O Lord the workes of RepentaÌ„ce Carefulnesse Defence or clearing my selfe Indignation Feare Vehement desire Zeale Reuenge Phil. 4.8 Giue mee Grace to thinke vpon doe Whatsoeuer things are True Venerable Honest Iust Pure Louely Of good report Giue vnto me ô Lord Humility of heart Charity to my Neighbour Patience of minde Temperance of life Chastity of body Contentednesse of minde Alacrity of Spirit Giue vnto me good Lord. Perfect knowledge of my sinnes Hearty sorrow for them Perfect hatred against them Feruent loue to all goodnesse True obedience to thy Will 2. Pet. 1.5 Giue mee grace O Lord to adde To faith Vertue To Vertue Knowledge To Knowledge Temperance To Temperance Patience To Patience Godlinesse To Godlinesse Brotherly Kindnesse To Brotherly kindnesse Charitie Gal. 5.22 Giue vnto me ô Lord the fruites of the spirit Loue Ioy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance Giue vnto mee good Lord. Contempt of the world Hatred of sinne Loathing of the flesh Desire of Heauen Giue vnto me O Lord. A right Faith to liue well A sure Hope to perseuere well A perfect Humility to obay well A true Charitie Neuer to be diuided from thee Giue mee grace O Lord To be content with that which â—s necessary To despise that which is superfluous Grant O Lord That I may so liue that I repent not to haue liued That I may so liue that no man may know I haue liued amisse That I may so liue that I may alwaies liue Luc. 2.29 That dying I may liue and liuing I may dye and say with a chearefull Spirit Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Prayers for Spirituall Graces O Blessed LORD Iesus Christ who art my only Tutor and instructer and from whom I haue learned whatsoeuer I know I beseech thee that thou wouldest further teach me those things whereof I am ignorant and which are necessary for my Saluation that thou wouldest keepe me in those things which I haue already learned and rectifie mee in those matters wherein as a man I erre strengthen mee and make mee firme whereinsoeuer I wauer and am doubtfull and keepe me from that which is erroneous and hurtfull Aboue all things O Sauiour strengthen my Faith and giue me grace dayly to profit in the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Holy Word and so gouerne all my actions by thy Holy Spirit that my life may be answerable to my knowledge and that I may shew the fruites of whatsoeuer I haue learned by my good and religious conuersation Giue mee a firme and assured hope in thee and thy gratious promises that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue an assured confidence in thy mercy Be vnto me a strong tower of defence against mine enemies that whether the world allure me the Deuill assayle me or the flesh rebell I may flie vnto thee for refuge And although thou presently put not forth thy hand to helpe me but deferre thy comfort according to thy good pleasure yet keepe me from doubting or despairing of thy aid because thy promises are sure Giue me a feruent loue and perfect charity to my neighbour that I may be as kinde to him and as carefull of him as of one who is a member with mee of the same body whereof thou O sweete Sauiour art the Head Let my loue to him bee sincere and vnfained which may charitably releeue him in his wants patiently beare with his infirmities and willingly forgiue him all his trespasses against me Create in mee I beseech thee a pure milde peaceable and humble heart which may thinke harme to no man nor recompense euill for euill but good for iniuries Cleanse me from all vncleane and earthly desires and lift vp my heart to thee and Heauenly things and so write thy Lawes in it that I may wholly bend my selfe to keepe them and please thee perseuering in the same to my liues end Giue me O Lord true Compunction of heart and so water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may in the bitternesse of my soule with abundance of teares sighes and groanes bewaile and lament all my hainous and grieuous transgressions against thee Giue mee grace O Lord that I may not boast in any merits or workes of mine owne or haue any confidence in them but let mee glory in this alone that I am a member of that Body of thine which was crucified for me and did sufficiently satisfie for all the sinnes of the world If thou O Lord looke or expect or any merits from me behold I tender vnto thee thine owne merits the merits of thy death and Passion which thou hast vouchsafed to make me partaker of by vertue whereof alone I dare boldly appeare before thy Tribunall These merits I set betweene my sinnes and thy Iustice and otherwise or in any other manner I dare not I will not contend with thee O sweet Iesu I desire thee to offer them to the Father as a propitiatory Sacrifice for all my great and grieuous offences that when my soule shall depart from this body it may by the same be freed and deliuered from all the Iudgements and punishments which are due vnto it for sinne and be carried to that blessed Place where there is no sorrow but endlesse felicitie where thou together with the Father and the blessed Spirit liuest and raignest for euer Before Prayer O Almighty and euerliuing God Heauenly Father to whom it is manifestly knowne how inconstant and wandering the mindes of Men are in any good actions and how easily we suffer our selues to be carried away from the contemplation of thee by diuersity of distractions and vnseasonable thoughts which take hold of vs in the time of our deuotions and praiers vnto thee who also by thine only begotten Sonne Christ Iesus didst
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
towards God then presently God will withdraw his hand of mercy and bounty from vs. Thankesgiuing I Thanke thee O mercifull Father Lord of heauen and earth for all thy mercies and fauours continually heaped vpon me for that thou hast not onely created me after thine owne Image and likenesse Gen. 9.6 and giuen to me a body with all the parts and members thereof and a soule with all the powers and faculties thereof that with them and by them I might know loue and serue thee but that thou hast so gratiously preserued both body and soule from time to time from all dangers Thou hast alwayes beene my refuge in tribulations and my defence and succour in aduersities When I went astray thou didst reduce me into the right way when I offended thee thou didst gently correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort me and when for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes I was ready to despaire thou of thy mercy and compassion didst strengthen me and keepe me from vtter ruine I acknowledge O Lord thy more then fatherly indulgence toward me from my birth to this present time for volesse thou of thy goodnesse hadst vpheld me I had long ere this time beene drowned and ouerwhelmed in the bottomlesse gulfe of my sinnes But thou hast deliuered me from the iawes of the roaring Lyon who hath daily sought to deuoure me 1. Pet. 5.8 and hast defended me from al his snares and assaults And as thou hast of thy mercy preserued my soule from destruction so thou hast oftentimes deliuered my body from the gates of death when many sickenesses and infirmities tooke hold of me I thanke thee also O Lord for all other thy temporall blessings which thou in plentifull manner hast heaped vpon me as foode rayment wealth possessions and children For my health and liberty for the prerogatiue which thou hast giuen mee ouer all thy creatures in their subiection to my seruice and vse I thanke thee also O Sweete Sauiour for the infinite worke of my Redemption and for thy exceeding great loue in accomplishing that great worke that thou wouldest suffer so many torments sorrowes labours and griefes yea so bitter and disgracefull a death euen the death of malefactors to Redeeme me from a most desperate and certaine state of damantion which I must iustly haue fallen into to a state of Glory and Immortality which I by no meanes could haue deserued I thanke thee also O Lord most holy for all other thy Spirituall graces and blessings as my Regeneration Vocation Sanctification for thy blessed Sacraments for my preseruation and hope of glorification O Lord I am not sufficient to render vnto thee condigne thankes and praises for all these thy mercies yet accept I humbly pray thee these poore and weake thankes which I offer vnto thee according to my bounden duty and Seruice For as there is no houre of my life wherein I doe not enioy thy fauours and taste of thy goodnesse so if my frailty would permit I should spend no time of my life without remembring them and praising and blessing thee for the same Glory bee therefore to thee O Lord my Creator Glory be to thee O Iesus my Redeemer Glory be to thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier Glory to the high and vndiuided Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and whose dominion endureth world without end Another ALmightie and euer-liuing God I humbly thanke thy heauenly Maiestie for all thy blessings which thou hast vouchsafed to mee poore and sinfull creature that thou hast created me and giuen to me a body the worke-manship and excellency whereof when I behold and well consider I finde so many seuerall benefits receiued as I haue members veines ioynts sinewes and nerues all which discouer and manifest the wisedome and power of the Maker of them The benefit of which seuerall parts none can so well know as they which want any of them or are grieued with the infirmitie or weakenesse of them I therefore blesse thee that thou hast not created me blinde lame deafe or dumbe euill-shaped or weake in my sences but hast giuen me a sound and right minde in a healthfull body I further praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast infused a soule into this my body a worke so glorious and transcendent that if I were not altogether stupid and void of all Iudgement I would not by my actions account so basely of it as I seeme to doe nor defile it with such impure contemptible and vucleane workes as I daily commit I thanke thee O Lord that I was not borne among Infidels and amongst those who doe not truely call vpon thy Name but in that part of the world where thy Gospell is truely preached and thy Sacraments duely administred I thanke thee also for thy gratious preseruation of me from my birth to this present houre I confesse O Lord that it is of thy mercy and goodnesse that I am thus preserued for if thou shouldest but with-draw thy hand of preseruation from me it could not be but that in the twinckling of an eye I should miserably perish and returne to nothing I thanke thee that thou hast of thy prouidence appointed all thy Creatures for my sustenance and seruice some for health and some for delight Grant O Lord that I may vse them to those ends for which thou hast created them and that by them I may be mooued truely to meditate on thy goodnesse and seriously praise thee for them I further thanke thee O Father that when as by our first parents fall all mankinde was in the state of damnation it pleased thee not to deale with vs as thou diddest with Lucifer whom thou vtterly expelledst thy presence but to send thy onely Sonne from thy bosome into this world that by his bitter death we might be restored to our former estate I acknowledge O Lord that I owe much vnto thee for my Creation but much more for my Redemption For what would it haue profited me nay what misery should I not haue suffered to haue beene borne and afterward to be condemned for euer I thanke thee O Lord that thou hast also vouchsafed to call me out of the depth of darkenesse and shadow of death wherein I lay by the admirable light of thy Iustifying Grace to the true knowledge and loue of thee It is not the least of thy benefits O Lord it sheweth not the least part of thy power that thou hast called me from so vile an estate whereinto I had cast my selfe after Baptisme and in the same had continued many yeeres rebelliously to the estate of Saluation For it must needs be acknowledged that thy mercy is great in pardoning sinners their offences but withall it cannot be denied but that thy power is greater in making sinners righteous and iust Great was the benefit of my Creation but by that act I was only made the Son of man but greater is the benefit of Iustification for thereby in Christ I am made the
Sonne of God Great is the benefit of Redemption and indeed the greatest of all others but without Vocation and Iustification it had auailed me nothing Great is the benefit which ariseth by the Expectation of Glory and no lesse is this of Iustification for it is a worke of no lesse power to make a Iust man a sinner then to make a Iust man happy and blessed for as much as the difference betweene Sinne and Grace is more then betweene Grace and Glory I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefits which arise by these Heauenly guifts and graces are so great that my toung faileth and my heart wanteth ability wherewith sufficiently to praise thee for them I praise thee also O Lord for thy Blessed Sacraments for that of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinnes and regenerated and adopted into the number of thy Children and for the other of the Blessed body and Blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sacrament of Grace Vnitie Charity and Remission of sinnes the foode of our Soules in this Pilgrimage and the Conduit through which all graces are conueighed to our fainting Soules Lastly I thanke thee for thy preseruation of me in thy Grace by which I am restrained from returning to the mire with the washed Sowe 2. Pet. 2.22 and to the Vomit with the Dogge and by which I am strengthned to doe something acceptable and pleasing vnto thee I confesse O Lord that whatsoeuer good I haue done is wrought in mee by thee and whatsoeuer tentation or euill I escape is meerely by thy prouidence O Lord continue and keepe me still in this Grace that I may so vse all thy blessings and so keepe them in minde that they may stirre vp in mee a more ardent desire to magnifie thy Blessed Name and a great care of ordering my waies hereafter that I may no more grieue thy Holy Spirit who with thee Eph. 4.30 and thy Blessed Sonne our alone Sauiour liueth and raigneth one God world without end Another ALL praise honour and glory be giuen to thee O Lord God Father almightie for all thy inestimable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankinde whether priuate or publique generall or particular spirituall or temporall Who is able to reckon vp or declare the seuerall kindes or parts of them for creating the world for beautifying enriching and making it fruitfull for the vse of man for giuing vnto vs soules and bodies and adorning them with infinite faculties and gifts and which exceedes the rest of thy blessings for deliuering vs from the power and seruitude of sinne and the Deuill for forbearing and expecting our repentance so long preseruing vs from all dangers and furnishing vs with all things necessary for this life What praise shall we render to thee O Sweet Iesus for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs we praise and blesse thee for thy Incarnation and Birth for all the labours paines sorrowes wounds and disgraces together with the vile and ignominious death which thou didst suffer to reconcile vs to thy Fathers fauour from which our sinnes had iustly excluded vs for which thy great loue to the Sonnes of Men Blessed be thy holy Name O Holy and Blessed Spirit who in the beginning of time didst moue vpon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 at our Sauiours Baptisme Mat. 3.16 in the shape of a Doue Act. 2.3 and on the Apostles in the shape of fiery tongues we praise and worship thee for inlightning our vnderstandings for fitting and making vs apt to conceiue the mysteries of life eternall for conuerting vs from euill conuersation to newnesse of life and for Sanctifying vs to life euerlasting for directing vs in the works of truth and gouerning vs in our temporall affaires O Glorious and Sacred Trinity infuse into vs we beseech thee such measure of thy Grace that we may bee dayly mindefull of all these thy Blessings Pardon all our former ingratitude and negligence in that we haue beene no more zealous to loue thee nor more carefull to serue thee and so forgetfull to thanke thee for all thy benefits and mercies Illuminate our hearts that wee may firmely beleeue in thee deuoutly call vpon thee and obediently execute thy Holy Will that at the last wee may by the merits and passion of thee O Sauiour attaine to that heauenly Mansion where thou O blessed Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnity in Trinity abidest world without end I thanke thee O Lord For my Creation my Being my well being That I am endued with Reason That I am A Ciuill man A Christian. Free borne Ingenious Of honest Parents That I am sound in minde Senses Body That I am well brought vp taught I thanke thee For thy guifts of Nature Grace Estate For deliuering me from Danger Infamy Trouble For the health of my Body A Competencie of Estate Friends Children Kindred I thanke thee O Lord For my Redemption Regeneration Instruction Vocation Consolation Illumination Iustification Hope of Glorification For thy Patience toward me Grace preuenting me Gouerning me Continuall care ouer me Strengthning me in tentation Reprouing me in ill Assisting me in good For the Compunction of my heart The hope of pardon for my sinnes For the Benefits I haue receiued For any good done by me For all those that haue done me good by their Writings Sermons Conferences Prayers Examples Reproofes Iniuries For all and euery of these and for all other knowne or vnknowne remembred or forgotten I confesse and will confesse thee I blesse and will blesse thee I thanke and will thanke thee as the Author and Giuer of them all SEVEN PSALMES OF THANKESGIVING analysed 1 Psalme 8. 1 O Lord our God Creator and Preseruer of all things how excellent glorious and reuerend is thy great and holy Name not in one particular nation onely but in all the Kingdomes of the earth who as thou hast magnified thy Name in the earth so hast thou set and extolled thy glory aboue the heauens also 2 Out of the mouthes and tongues of babes and sucklings euen very infants hast thou because men of riper yeeres and vnderstanding neglect thy Glory ordained strength and giuen little children abilitie to praise thee because of the malice of thine enemies the principalities of this world that thou mightest by this thy great wisedome and power still the tongues and suppresse the blasphemous speeches of the enemie and auenger when he shall see that by such weake meanes thou canst effect so great matters 3 When I consider and duly weigh thy Heauens and the Glorious frame thereof the worke of thy fingers made and created only by thee togither with the Moone and the Starres and other beautifull lights of Heauen which thou at the beginning of time hast ordained of nothing I cannot but in the depth of admiration say 4 What is man for whose vse and seruice thou hast made them and all things in this world and him to serue thee That thou so
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall